Lisbon school's water system shut down as precaution after bacteria found

Lisbon Central School has shut down its water system after a routine well sampling Monday found coliform bacteria.

By ALISON SHEA

The Bulletin

By ALISON SHEA

Posted Feb. 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 10, 2013 at 10:02 AM

By ALISON SHEA

Posted Feb. 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 10, 2013 at 10:02 AM

Lisbon, Conn.

Lisbon Central School has shut down its water system after a routine well sampling Monday found coliform bacteria.

The shutdown, including boiling water before cooking in the school cafeteria and turning off water fountains, is being done as a precaution, Superintendent Sally Keating said in a letter to parents Tuesday. Bottled water and water coolers have been provided throughout the school since Tuesday.

The school’s water system consultant, Steve Klobukowski of Salem-based Aqua Compliance, said just two colonies of bacteria, the equivalent of about two drops of water, were found in samples taken from the school’s wells Monday. The bacteria tested negative for E. coli, the dangerous form of coliform bacteria.

The wells also serve the Lisbon Senior Center and the town public works garage.

“The number of colonies has nothing to do with the danger, but if the number is higher, that means the bacteria got into more of the system. This is a tiny number, a small intrusion. It could mean as little as two or three drops of water,” Klobukowski said. “The wells have been cleaned now, and we’re hoping the sanitizing and disinfecting process will clean it out.”

The wells will be resampled early this week and retested. If the bacteria is gone, Klobukowski said, he expects the town can go back to using its water by the end of the week.

Because the coliform bacteria found in the school’s water system is not E. coli and not a disease-causing strain, the school’s step was done voluntarily, rather than as part of an order by the state or other public health authorities. Klobukowski said he recommended the move, however, after considering the buildings served by the well system.

“With the children, the seniors, the young children at the day care in school, we want to take an extra precautionary step to make sure we don’t have to worry,” Klobukowski said. “My belief is that there’s virtually no danger, but we like to careful.”